Post by Overlord Starr on Dec 13, 2008 15:03:07 GMT -5
Feel free to use these terms in your roleplays! They are fun little terms that are used in the Japanese language.
Honorifics
-San: -san is the most common honorific and is a title of respect. It is used for the surnames or given names of both males and females. Although in translation san is usually rendered as a common courtesy title like “Mr.” or “Ms.”, unlike these it is never used in self-reference. Using -san to refer to oneself makes one appear childish or incredibly vain.
-Kun: An informal honorific used primarily for males; it can be used by people of more senior status adressing those junior to them or by another in adressing male children.
-Chan: Calling someone using their name and the suffix -chan is often heard in anime. This is generally used for young girls but can also be used for some girl a person is very close to. Informal verion of -san, can be used as terms oif enderment between women who are good friends.
Senpai: Used for someone in a grade higher than the one someone else is in schools.
Kohai: Is the reverse of Senpai. It is used to refer to juniors, but not normally to address them: kôhai are normally addressed by name +kun (addressing someone directly as kôhai would be somewhat rude).
Sensi: Used to indicate a teacher in particular but can also be used for non-teaching people who are respected in their own areas.
-Sama: Ending used for indicating great respect towards someone.
-Kun: An informal honorific used primarily for males; it can be used by people of more senior status adressing those junior to them or by another in adressing male children.
-Chan: Calling someone using their name and the suffix -chan is often heard in anime. This is generally used for young girls but can also be used for some girl a person is very close to. Informal verion of -san, can be used as terms oif enderment between women who are good friends.
Senpai: Used for someone in a grade higher than the one someone else is in schools.
Kohai: Is the reverse of Senpai. It is used to refer to juniors, but not normally to address them: kôhai are normally addressed by name +kun (addressing someone directly as kôhai would be somewhat rude).
Sensi: Used to indicate a teacher in particular but can also be used for non-teaching people who are respected in their own areas.
-Sama: Ending used for indicating great respect towards someone.
Terms
Baka: Technically this means fool or idiot, and is definitely an insult when used against someone you are not personally familiar with. With close friends, however, the term actually be a term of endearment or mild chastisement.
Bento: These are boxed lunches, prepared at home or bought already prepared at subway stations and department stores. This can be in very plain or very fancy box containers and differ considerably in their contents. Oftentimes we see in anime Japanese students eating lunch in the classroom using bento boxes. These are sometimes seen in Japanese anime
Bowing: Bowing is done as a sign of respect for the other person, the more respect the deeper the bow. This can vary from a slight nod of the head to a deep and formal, long-held bow. Men bow with their hands and arms at their sides and women bow with their hands interlocked and held in front of them.
Onsen: Hot spring
"Gomen nasai": Terms for "I'm sorry"
"Hai": Can mean yes as in agreement but can also be used just to indicate a person is paying attention. This can lead to misunderstandings by Westerners of what Japanese are believing in a conversation. They may think a Japanese person is agreeing with them when the person is just indicating that they are paying attention.
"Okaeri nasai": Terms said to someone returning home, meaning welcome home
"Kawaii": cute, in Japanese
Bento: These are boxed lunches, prepared at home or bought already prepared at subway stations and department stores. This can be in very plain or very fancy box containers and differ considerably in their contents. Oftentimes we see in anime Japanese students eating lunch in the classroom using bento boxes. These are sometimes seen in Japanese anime
Bowing: Bowing is done as a sign of respect for the other person, the more respect the deeper the bow. This can vary from a slight nod of the head to a deep and formal, long-held bow. Men bow with their hands and arms at their sides and women bow with their hands interlocked and held in front of them.
Onsen: Hot spring
"Gomen nasai": Terms for "I'm sorry"
"Hai": Can mean yes as in agreement but can also be used just to indicate a person is paying attention. This can lead to misunderstandings by Westerners of what Japanese are believing in a conversation. They may think a Japanese person is agreeing with them when the person is just indicating that they are paying attention.
"Okaeri nasai": Terms said to someone returning home, meaning welcome home
"Kawaii": cute, in Japanese
For a wonderful Guide that has more terms than I could post go here. Includes clothing terminology and honorifics. Very helpful! www.bookmice.net/darkchilde/japan/terms.html
Also see
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_honorifics#Senpai_and_k.C5.8Dhai
Also see
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_honorifics#Senpai_and_k.C5.8Dhai
